State of Arkansas
(Tune: somewhere between Joe Bowers and a recitation)
My name is Charlie Brennan, from Charlestown I come.
I've traveled this wide world over, some ups and downs I've had.
I've traveled this wide world over, some ups and downs I saw,
But I never knew what mis'ry was till I hit old Arkansas.
I landed in St. Louis with ten dollars and no more.
I read the daily papers till both my eyes were sore.
I read them evening papers, until at last I saw
Ten thousand men were wanted in the State of Arkansas.
I wiped my eyes with great surprise when I read this happy news.
And straight off I went to see the agent, Billy Hughes.
He said "Pitch me five dollars, and a ticket you shall draw
To ride upon the railroad to the State of Arkansas.
I started off next morning at a quarter after five.
I started from St. Louis, half dead and half alive,
I bought me a quart of whiskey, my misery to thaw
And I got drunk as a boiled owl when I left for Arkansas.
'Twas in the year of '82 in the merry month of June
I landed in Ft. Smith on a sultry afternoon.
The air so hot and dusty, my breath I could not draw
But I got off to see what was in the State of Arkansas.
I dodged behind the depot, to duck the oven wind.
There I met a walking skeleton, his name was James T. Glynn.
His hair hung down in rat-tails o'er his long and lantern jaw.
Invited me to his hotel "the best in Arkansas."
I followed my conductor into his dwelling place.
There mis'ry and starvation could be seen in ev'ry face.
His bread it was corn dodger, his meat I could not chaw
But he charged me a half a dollar in the State of Arkansas.
I started off next morning, in a hard and driving rain.
He says to me "If you will work, I have some land to drain
I'll pay you fifty cents a day, your board and wash and all
You'll find yourself a different man when you leave old Arkansas.
He fed me on corn dodgers, as hard as any rock,
Till my teeth began to loosen and my knees began to knock.
I grew so thin on sassafras tea, I could hide behind a straw
And, indeed I was a different man when I left old Arkansas.
So farewell to swamp-angels, to canebreaks and fever chills
Farewell to sage and sassafras and corn-dodger pills.
If I ever see this land again, I'll give to you my paw
But it'll be though a telescope, from Hell to Arkansas.
Recorded by Lee Hayes
State Of Arkansas Video (MV)
Unknown - State Of Arkansas Lyrics
We currently do not have these lyrics.
If you would like to submit them, please use the form below.
We currently do not have these lyrics.
If you would like to submit them, please use the form below.
State of Arkansas
(Tune: somewhere between Joe Bowers and a recitation)
My name is Charlie Brennan, from Charlestown I come.
I've traveled this wide world over, some ups and downs I've had.
I've traveled this wide world over, some ups and downs I saw,
But I never knew what mis'ry was till I hit old Arkansas.
I landed in St. Louis with ten dollars and no more.
I read the daily papers till both my eyes were sore.
I read them evening papers, until at last I saw
Ten thousand men were wanted in the State of Arkansas.
I wiped my eyes with great surprise when I read this happy news.
And straight off I went to see the agent, Billy Hughes.
He said "Pitch me five dollars, and a ticket you shall draw
To ride upon the railroad to the State of Arkansas.
I started off next morning at a quarter after five.
I started from St. Louis, half dead and half alive,
I bought me a quart of whiskey, my misery to thaw
And I got drunk as a boiled owl when I left for Arkansas.
'Twas in the year of '82 in the merry month of June
I landed in Ft. Smith on a sultry afternoon.
The air so hot and dusty, my breath I could not draw
But I got off to see what was in the State of Arkansas.
I dodged behind the depot, to duck the oven wind.
There I met a walking skeleton, his name was James T. Glynn.
His hair hung down in rat-tails o'er his long and lantern jaw.
Invited me to his hotel "the best in Arkansas."
I followed my conductor into his dwelling place.
There mis'ry and starvation could be seen in ev'ry face.
His bread it was corn dodger, his meat I could not chaw
But he charged me a half a dollar in the State of Arkansas.
I started off next morning, in a hard and driving rain.
He says to me "If you will work, I have some land to drain
I'll pay you fifty cents a day, your board and wash and all
You'll find yourself a different man when you leave old Arkansas.
He fed me on corn dodgers, as hard as any rock,
Till my teeth began to loosen and my knees began to knock.
I grew so thin on sassafras tea, I could hide behind a straw
And, indeed I was a different man when I left old Arkansas.
So farewell to swamp-angels, to canebreaks and fever chills
Farewell to sage and sassafras and corn-dodger pills.
If I ever see this land again, I'll give to you my paw
But it'll be though a telescope, from Hell to Arkansas.
Recorded by Lee Hayes
(Tune: somewhere between Joe Bowers and a recitation)
My name is Charlie Brennan, from Charlestown I come.
I've traveled this wide world over, some ups and downs I've had.
I've traveled this wide world over, some ups and downs I saw,
But I never knew what mis'ry was till I hit old Arkansas.
I landed in St. Louis with ten dollars and no more.
I read the daily papers till both my eyes were sore.
I read them evening papers, until at last I saw
Ten thousand men were wanted in the State of Arkansas.
I wiped my eyes with great surprise when I read this happy news.
And straight off I went to see the agent, Billy Hughes.
He said "Pitch me five dollars, and a ticket you shall draw
To ride upon the railroad to the State of Arkansas.
I started off next morning at a quarter after five.
I started from St. Louis, half dead and half alive,
I bought me a quart of whiskey, my misery to thaw
And I got drunk as a boiled owl when I left for Arkansas.
'Twas in the year of '82 in the merry month of June
I landed in Ft. Smith on a sultry afternoon.
The air so hot and dusty, my breath I could not draw
But I got off to see what was in the State of Arkansas.
I dodged behind the depot, to duck the oven wind.
There I met a walking skeleton, his name was James T. Glynn.
His hair hung down in rat-tails o'er his long and lantern jaw.
Invited me to his hotel "the best in Arkansas."
I followed my conductor into his dwelling place.
There mis'ry and starvation could be seen in ev'ry face.
His bread it was corn dodger, his meat I could not chaw
But he charged me a half a dollar in the State of Arkansas.
I started off next morning, in a hard and driving rain.
He says to me "If you will work, I have some land to drain
I'll pay you fifty cents a day, your board and wash and all
You'll find yourself a different man when you leave old Arkansas.
He fed me on corn dodgers, as hard as any rock,
Till my teeth began to loosen and my knees began to knock.
I grew so thin on sassafras tea, I could hide behind a straw
And, indeed I was a different man when I left old Arkansas.
So farewell to swamp-angels, to canebreaks and fever chills
Farewell to sage and sassafras and corn-dodger pills.
If I ever see this land again, I'll give to you my paw
But it'll be though a telescope, from Hell to Arkansas.
Recorded by Lee Hayes